Avoid military speak: Advice for that job interview

By Stars and Stripes

Stars and Stripes

Published: November 8, 2011

If you're a veteran trying to get your first job after leaving the military, you've got to recognize that it's a whole new world out there. And the people you want to hire you, don't necessarily speak your language.

To get the gig, you’ve got to drop the military lingo and talk like a civilian. Here’s a quick guide to help navigate the conversation.

What you say

What they hear

What you should say

MOS

Moss?

Job specialty

Rifle platoon leader

Rambo

Team leader, squad manager

E-5

“You sank my Battleship!”

Sergeant

Fatigues

Tired

Uniform

Dress Blues

Wardrobe depression

Formal uniform

National Defense Service Medal, GWOT Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon

Medal of Honor

You can probably just leave these out

PT

PT Cruiser

Exercise

Inside the wire

An HBO show

On a base in a war zone

IED

GED?

Don’t talk about bombs

Marine, Sailor, Airman

Soldier

Let it slide

PCS’d

Pissed

Relocated, tackled new challenges

Combat experience

PTSD

Ability to perform under pressure

Battle rattle

Some kind of war noise

Body armor (but leave that out, too)

Humvee

That Hummer in the parking lot

Truck

General (Under Honorable Conditions)

Honorable discharge

If this applies, you might as well leave it and benefit from the confusion